Baffle system for agitated cleaning tanks



Feb. 8, 1966 R. H. SHEPPARD 3,233,773

BAFFLE SYSTEM FOR AGITATED CLEANING TANKS Filed Dec. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. R/cHnQD H. SHEPPAED ATTOQN EVS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 R. H. SHEPPARD BAFFLE SYSTEM FOR AGITATED CLEANING TANKS Filed Dec. 4, 1962 8E: 87 88 5 I F6 89 85 RICH/QED H. SHEPPDED United States Patent 3,233,773 RAFFLE SYSTEM FOR AGITATED CLEANING TANKS Richard H. Sheppard, Gardena, Calif., assignor to Purex Corporation, Ltd., Lakewood, Caliii, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 242,290 5 Claims. (Cl. 22020.5)

This invention relates generally to parts cleaning apparatus of the type where solid parts are treated with liquid solvents in a cleaning tank, and is particularly concerned with improvements in such .apparatus having for their purpose the prevention of mixing of the solvent and an upper layer of seal liquid, and inhibition of evaporation loss of the solvent in the cleaning tank.

At the present time it is the general practice in the art of cleaning or removing carbon or paint from parts in a solvent treating tank to submerge the parts in the removal solution, which is typically highly volatile, and to float on the solution an aqueous solution layer of several inches thickness which acts as a barrier or seal to inhibit evaporation loss of the solvent. The lower layer normally is a hydrocarbon solution, typically a chlorinated hydrocarbon solution, and hence not misciblewith the water solution or sealing layer.

To further augment the cleaning efficiency of the chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent, it has been frequently found advantageous to employ agitation to the tank. Agitation is not only desirable, but in many instances, it is mandatory if removal is to be effectuated on such soils as carbonaceous deposits resulting from the pyrolysis of fuels and lubricating oils.

It is readily apparent that any agitation employed in a system of two mutually immiscible liquids results in a mixing thereof. If a chlorinated hydrocarbon system, for instance, employing a water seal, is highly agitated, the water solution becomes dispersed throughout the cleaning solvent. It has been found that such distribution of water in the solvent greatly impairs the cleaning characteristics of the solvent and the advantages of employing agitation are eliminated; in fact, if the water is uniformly dispersed throughout the system, the cleaning results are inferior to those found in an unagitated tank, and evaporation losses of solvent occurs.

To overcome this difficulty and still maintain the advantages of agitation of the organic solvent, it has been the practice to employ a metal bafile so positioned in the tank as to separate the aqueous seal from the body of solvent. By this means it is possible to maintain the aqueous seal in the quiescent condition during the operation of the agitator in the cleaning zone of the tank. For this purpose horizontally sliding baffles, hinged baffles, and the like, have been utilized. This practice, however, leads to rather complex mechanical and space problems involving operation of the bafile to move it into and out of position between the solvent solution and the seal layer, and location of the bafile in a non-interfering position, e.g., to one side of the tank when the baffle is not in use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple interface baflie for use on agitated cleaning tanks to permit use of two layer cleaning baths, said baffle preventing the intermixing of the solvent solution and the seal layer, and preventing loss of volatile solvent from the tank.

Another object is the provision of a simple positive acting baffle of the above type which in its normal operative position is suitably located in the tank between the solvent and seal layers, preventing communication of agitation from the agitated solvent to the seal layer, without positive attachment of the bafile to the adjacent inside 3,233,773 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 walls or surfaces of the tank, yet with minimum clearance between the baffle and said surfaces, and which is readily movable from such operative position to an inoperative position which permits easy access to the body of the tank for removal of parts therefrom or the introduction of parts to be cleaned into the tank, or when it is desired to clean or repair the tank.

The above and other objects are achieved in the manner described below.

In carrying out the above objects there is provided in interface seal baffle in the form of a segment of a right cylinder mounted for pivotal motion on its axis in the upper portion of a parts cleaning tank, the axis of said cylindrical segment extending transversely of they tank. In the operative or closed position, the baffle rests concavely downward in the tank, and separates the lower portion of the tank containing organic solvent from the upper seal layer. In such position the baffle substantially covers the lower portion of the tank with minimum clearance between the baffle and the adjacent inner surfaces of the tank. For this purpose suitable flashing maybe provided on the cylindrical segment baffle and suitable cooperating members may be provided on adjacent inner tank surfaces, to minimize flow of the lower solvent liquid past the baflle into the region of the tank above the baffle.

To provide pivotal or rotary motion of the baffle from closed to inoperative or open position, a shaft is afiixed on the axis of both ends of the cylinder, the shafts being journaled in suitable bearing surfaces located at the upper end of the tank out of contact with the solutions therein. The interface seal baffle is actuated, e.g. for pivotal motion into open position, by any suitable means, manual or mechanical, such as by a hand crank, or by a motor through a gear box or chain and sprocket, or by a hydraulic piston. In the open position the cylindrical segment bafile is positioned substantially within, but to one side of the upper portion of the tank, permitting parts to be withdrawn or introduced readily into the body or lower portion of the tank. Suitable lock means may be provided to hold the baffle segment in either closed or open position.

In another embodiment, the rotatable interface seal baflie of the invention may be constructed of a plurality of cylindrical segments, e.g. two such segments. Where, for example, a pair of cooperating cylindrical segments are employed to form a single bafile unit, both segments are journaled for rotation on a common axis, and in the closed position the two segments are substantially separated and span the upper portion of the tank to separate the lower solvent body from the upper seal layer, substantially in the manner described above. The two segments of this bathe unit are of slightly different size, i.e. have slightly different radii and slightly different axial lengths, and are arranged so that when it is desired to rotate the unit into open or inoperative position, one of the baffle segments can telescope into the other, and the t-elescoped unit can be rotated to the inoperative position to permit free access to the body of the tank.

For large tanks a plurality of two or more rotatable b aille plates, or baffle plate units, according to the invention, can be employed, to provide a complete interface seal across the tank.

In the bafile arrangement of the invention, the only friction or contact surfaces in operation of the baffie are the bearing surfaces for the shafts on which the cylindrical baflle is mounted, and such bearing surfaces are always out of contact with the solutions in the tank. There is no sliding or hinge friction to cause binding and hanging-up, as in presently employed baffle systems. There is no sliding contact between the bathe and adjacent surfaces of the tank, and only minimum running clearance 3 between the bafile and such tank surfaces is required. The rotating principle of operation of the baffle provides a sharp cutting action as the battle segment or segments are opened or closed, thus causing minimum disturbance or mixing of the solvent and seal layer during rotation of the baffle segments.

The rotating bafile principle of the invention requires minimum space addition to tank length, width and height compared to other types of seal bafiies. The rotatable baffle principle of the invention also prevents accumulation of sludge on the bafile interface, since, such sludge will tend to slide off the baffle segments when the bafiie is rotated to open position and no pockets or dead end cavities are present in the invention baffle, thus eliminating baflle fouling from sludge accumulation in such pockets. The invention bafile also can be utilized as a tank cover in place of the cumbersome counter weight tank cover usually employed, and when so used will permit a substantial reduction in overall tank height.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section taken in elevation through a cleaning tank in which is mounted a rotatable cylindrical segment baffle according to the invention, with the bafiie shown in operative or closed position.

' FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of the upper portion of the tank with the baffle rotated to the inoperative or open position.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of the upper portion of the tank, with the baffle shown maintained in open position.

FIG. 4a is a detail taken on line 4a4a of PEG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of another embodiment of the invention showing a vertical section of the upper portion of a tank in which are positioned a pair of bafi'le units of the invention, each such unit comprising a pair of rotatable telescoping bafile segments, such baffle units being shown in the operative or closed position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, also showing the lower portion of the tank, with the baflle units shown in open or inoperative position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view into the upper interior portion of the tank of FIG. 5, showing the front wall partly broken away; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the parts cleaning apparatus 10 comprises an upright tank 12 having front and rear walls 14, opposite side walls 16, and a sloping bottom 17, forming an interior zone 18 for receiving articles to be cleaned. Typically, such articles may comprise carbon fouled jet engine parts received as within a retaining basket into the cleaning zone 18. The opposite walls 14 of the tank have recesses 29 which open transversely and divergently toward the cleaning zone 18. Mounted Within each of the recesses 24 is a thrust propeller 22 which is connected by means of a shaft 24 to an electric motor, indicated at 26. Circulation of solvent liquid in the cleaning zone 18 is effected by the propellers 22, and proper liquid circulation 1S aided by the recessed wall constructions indicated at 20. The sloping bottom 17 of the tank facilitates collection and flow of deposited soils toward the normally closed outlet 23, for drainage from the tank when desired.

Transversely positioned across the upper portion of tank 12 and connected to opposite walls 1d of the tank, is a plate 30 which slopes downwardly from one of the side walls 16, the plate having a horizontally positioned tongue 32 at the lower free end thereof. Also transversely across the tank and connected to the opposite walls 14 is a horizontal flange 34.

Mounted for rotary motion on an axis transversely of the tank, is a battle 36 according to the invention, such bafiie being in the form of a cylindrical segment having a curved arcuate central portion 38 and two end segments 49 each positioned at right angles to an element of the cylindrical surface 38. Each of the end segments 4% in this embodiment constitutes about of a circle. The baffle carries a pair of aligned outwardly extending shafts 41 each connected to the opposite segments 4%, at the axial center of the segments, and such shafts are journaled in bearings 42 mounted on the top of the front and rear walls 14 of the tank. A handle or crank 4.4 is connected to one of the shafts 41 for manual rotation of the baffle into open and closed position as described more fully below.

It will be noted, as seen more clearly in FIG. 3, that the axial length of the baffle 36 is 'slighly less than the distance between the front and rear walls 14, with only a small clearance provided between the end segments 40 f the bafiie and the adjacent walls 14. A pair of arcuate flanges 46 are connected to the front and rear Walls 14, the arcs 46 being in a circle concentric with the circle of the arcuate surface 38 of the battle, and having a slightiy larger radius than such are 38. Thus, in the operative position of the battle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the opposite ends of the outer surface of the cylindrical are 33 of the bafiie are closely adjacent the arcuate flanges 46. It is also noted that one longitudinal edge of the arcuate baffle surface 38 extends beyond the adjacent edges 48 of the end segments 49 of the bafiie and is bent to form flashing 5%, and the opposite longitudinal edge of the cylindrical surface 38 is also bent to form a tongue 52, members 5t) and 52 in the operative position of the bafiie shown in FIG. 1, lying closely adjacent to or making contact with fixed members 32 and 34 to serve as a stop for the bafile.

It will be seen that in the closed position of the baffle 36 shown in FIG. 1, the bafiie provides substantially complete separation of the lower cleaning zone 18 of the tank from upper zone 54 of the tank, in which is located the seal layer, indicated at 56. The bafiie in this closed position functions virtually as a cover over the lower treating zone 18 of the tank, and the clearance spaces (1) between the end segments 46 of the battle and the adjacent walls 14 of the tank, (2) between the ends of the arcuate' baffle surface 38 and arcuate flanges 46, and (3) between the flashing or tongues 50 and 52 on the baffle and the adjacent fixed members 32 and 34, are small, and although sufficient to permit free rotation of the baflie in a clockwise manner as viewed in FIG. 1, are sufiiciently small such that there is substantially no communication of agitated solvent from the lower zone 18 into the upper zone 54 of the tank during agitation of the solvent solution. Thus, the seal layer in such upper zone remains substantially undisturbed, preventing loss of solvent vapors to the atmosphere.

When it is desired to remove the cleaned parts from the tank, the agitators or propellers 22 are stopped, and the crank is manually manipulated to rotate the baffle 36 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, to the inoperative or open position of the baffle shown in FIG. 2, until the tongue 52 makes contact with fixed member 32. The bafiie is locked in this position by inserting a pin 57 into a recess 59 in the outer surface of one of the baffle end segments 40, said pin being mounted for axial motion in a sleeve 58 attached to a flange 61 extending outwardly around the upper edge of the tank walls. In this position of the bafile, ample space is provided at 60 between members 32 and 34 of the tank for access thereto, in order to remove cleaned parts from the cleaning zone 18 of the tank and to introduce additional soiled parts therein for cleaning. In this inoperative position of the bafile, it will be observed that a substantial portion of the bafile remains in the upper portion of the tank and to one side thereof, and the upwardly extending portion of the baille only occupies a relatively small space above the top of the tank. Also, it will be understood that as result of the,

rotary motion of the bafiie, the upper portion of the tank does not have to be extended in width between side walls 16 to accommodate the battle in the inoperative position shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawing, illustrating another embodiment of the invention, tank 62 has a lower parts cleaning zone 64 similar in structure to" that of tank 12, including therein propellers such as 22, mounted in recesses such as 20 in opposite walls 66 of tank 62. The upper portion of tank 62 has sideward and upward extensions 68 and 70 defining an upper zone 72 of greater width than the lower zone 64 of the tank between side walls 66. Mounted for rotatable movement within substantially the upper zone 72 of the tank are a pair of baflie units each designated 74. Since both of these units are of the same structure, only one such unit will be described, corresponding parts of these units being designated by the same part number. The baffie units 74 are each composed of a pair of cylindrical segment baffle members 75 and 76 similar in structure to cylindrical segment bafiie 40, but whose segments have a smaller angle, e.g. of about 35 to about 40, as compared to the angle of segments 40. Baflle member 75 1s of a size slightly larger than baflie member 76, so that the baffle member 76 can telescope into bafile member 75 when the former is rotated toward the latter. That is, segment baflie member 75 has a slightly larger radius and also has a slightly larger axial length than bafiie member 76. The batlie members 75 and 76 are mounted for rotation on a pair of common aligned transversely positioned shafts 77 journaled for rotation in the opposite front and rear tank walls 78. However, bafile segment 75 is free to rotate on shafts 77, while segment 76 is affixed to shafts 77 and rotates therewith.

It will be seen that cylindrical segments 75 carry along their outer longitudinal edges an outwardly bent fiat tongue 79 which rests on the horizontal shoulder 68 of the upper portion of the tank when the baliie units 74 are in the operative or closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, and maintaining the bafiie members 75 in fixed operative position. In this closed position of the batlie units 74, the battle members 76 of such units have been rotated toward each other to a position such that the adjacent longitudinal edges 80 of such members 76 are substantially in engagement. Since the clearance between the adjacent overlapping portions 81 and 82 of baflle members 75 and 76 respectively, is very small when the bafile members 75 and 76 are in the operative position of FIG. 5, and since there is only a small clearance between the end segments 83 of battle members 75 and the adjacent front and rear tank walls 78, the lower treating zone 64 of the tank is substantially isolated from the upper zone 72 of the tank containing the liquid seal layer indicated at 84, so that during agitation of the solvent in the treating zone 64, the seal layer 84 in the upper zone 72 will remain quiescent, preventing emulsification of the solvent and evaporization of the solvent int-o the atmosphere above the tank.

Fixed for rotation with one of the shafts 77 of each of the battle units 74 is a link 85 having at its opposite end a pin 86 slidably received Within a slot 87 of a horizontal bar 88. A block 89 is mounted at the center of bar 88, and to such block is connected a vertically disposed piston rod 90 of a hydraulically operated piston (not shown) within the hydraulic cylinder 91. It will be seen that operation of the hydraulic cylinder 91 to actuate the piston rod 90 will cause simultaneous rotation of shafts 77 of both battle units 74, and simultaneous rotation of the respective baffle members 76 and 75 of such units. This illustrates one form of mechanism for rotation of the battle units 74, it being understood that any other type of mechanism can be employed for this purpose.

Thus, when it is desired to rotate the bafiie units 74 from the operative or closed position shown in FIGS. 5

and 7, to their open or inoperative position shown in FIG. 6, the hydraulic piston 91 is actuated so as to displace piston rod 90 downwardly, causing rotation of the respective baflie members 76 of units 74 away from each other, but toward and into telescopic relation with the respective cooperating bai'lle members 75, until the inner longitudinal edges 92 of battle members 76 strike the lugs 93 struck up from the outer longitudinal edges of the respective baffie members 75. Continue-d downward motion of piston rod 90 causes continued rotation of the respective baffle members 7 6 of bathe units 74 away from each other, carrying with them the interlocked bafiie members 75, until the tongues 79 of bafile members 75 strike the stops 94 mounted on the inside surface of the opposite vertical walls in the upper portion of the tank, preventing further outward rotation of the baflie units 74. The hydraulic cylinder can be automatically shut 017 by suitable conventional means (not shown) when the baffle units are in the open position shown in FIG. 6, and such bafile units maintained in this position.

In the open position of the baflie units shown in FIG. 6, it will be seen that the top of the tank, that is, substantially the entire space 95 between the side walls 66 and front and rear walls 78 is available for removal of cleaned parts from, and introduction of parts to be cleaned into, the cleaning zone 64 of the tank. Further, it is seen that in the open position the bafile units 74 are completely within the upper portion 72 of the tank defined by Walls 68 and 70, and hence do not interfere with the handling of parts for processing in the tank, and occupy no space outside the tank.

To rotate the bafiie units 74 back into the closed or operative position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to raise the piston rod 90 and cause rotation of the bafile units 74 toward each other to the center of the tank. When the tongues 79 of bafile members make contact with the horizontal shoulders 68 of the upper portion of the tank, bafile members 75 remain fixed, but the bafiie members 76 continue to rotate toward each other and to Withdraw from telescoping relation with their respective cooperating baffle members 75 until the adjacent longitudinal edges of the bafiie members 76 of baflie units 74 make contact substantially at the center of the tank, at which time the hydraulic cylinder automatically can be rendered inoperative by suitable conventional means (not shown), and the bafile units 74 are now disposed in the operative closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, at which time the propellers in the tank can be actuated to commence another parts cleaning cycle.

In addition to the advantages outlined above which the rotatable cylindrical segment baflie of the invention possesses when employed in parts cleaning tanks of the type described above, the curved or arcuately shaped bafiie having right angle end segments according to the invention is structurally stronger and more rigid than conven-v tional flat plate type bafiles, permitting use of thinner gauge metal and avoiding use of stitleners, as compared to such plate type baffles. Also, the cylindrical bafiie members or bafile units of the invention are of simple construction and relatively inexpensive to fabricate. Further, the entire baffle assembly or bafiie segments can be removed readily from the cleaning tank for maintenance purposes without draining tank contents.

Although the bathe units 74 have been described as composed of a pair of telescoping cylindrical segment bafiie members 75 and 76, it will be understood that said bafiie units may be composed of more than two of such baflle members, e.g. three such members, each being of a different size to permit such telescoping relation, and all mounted for rotation on a common shaft, and one of such members, e.g. the smallest, being attached to the shaft for movement therewith, as in the case of bafiie member 76 of the batiie units 74 above, while the other bafile members of the units are free to rotate on such shaft, as in the case of bafiie members 75 of units 74 described above. Further, while in the embodiment of FIGS. to 8, two similar baffie units 74 are employed for purposes of spanning the lower zone of the tank in the operative or closed position, it will be understood that only one such telescoping baffle unit 74 may be employed for this purpose, depending on the size of the tank.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for purposes of illustration, it should be under stood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

ll. In parts cleaning apparatus including a tank having a lower zone for receiving cleaning liquid and parts to be cleaned during liquid agitation therein and an upper zone for a liquid seal overlying the cleaning liquid, the improvement which comprises a bafile unit including a plurality of telescoping bathe members, each such member being in the form of a right cylinder having a central arcuate portion and a pair of end segments connected to said arcuate portion, said bafile members being of slightly different sizes and adapted to telescope one within another, said cylindrical segment bathe members being positioned transversely of said tank, means mounting said cylindrical segment batlle members in the upper zone of said tank for pivotal motion of said baffle members on a common axis, said cylindrical segments in non-telescoping relation extending concavely downward sufficiently across the upper zone of said tank that communication of agitation from the cleaning liquid in said lower zone to the liquid seal in the upper zone is essentially eliminated, said mounting means including a shaft located on the common axis of said telescoping bafile members at each end thereof, one of said telescoping bafile members being mounted for rotation with said shafts, the remaining baffie members being mounted for free rotation on said shafts, whereby rotation of said one bathe member toward said other baffle members causes said bafile members to be telescoped within each other, means on said bathe members for maintaining said bafile members in said telescoped relation during rotation of said shafts in a direction to cause rotation of said bafile members away from said one position across the upper zone of said tank, said bathe members being thus rotatable to a second position adjacent a side of the upper zone of said tank, providing substantially unencumbered communication between the lower and upper zones of said tank, bearing members for each of said shafts mounted adjacent the top of said tank on opposite walls thereof and positioned to be free from contact with liquid in said tank, drive means for rotation of said shafts and said bafile members, and means on said battle members for maintaining said battle members in said second telescoped position,

2. In parts cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said end segments are positioned closely adjacent opposite walls of said tank, and said tank having surface members in the upper zone of said tank adjacent said baffie unit, said bafiie members of said bafile unit, when in said expanded substantially non-telescoping relation across the upper zone of said tank, and said tank surface members cooperating to provide sufficient clearance to permit rotatable motion of said bafile members from said non-telescoping position thereof to said second telescoped position of said bafile members, and vice versa, but insufficient clearance to permit displacement of said liquid seal in the upper zone of said tank by the agitation of said cleaning liquid in the lower zone of said tank.

3. In parts cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 2, said bafile unit comprising a pair of said telescoping baffie members, one of said bafile members being mounted for rotation with said shafts and the second bathe member being mounted for free rotation on said shafts, said 8 one baflie member being smaller than said second baffle member and adapted to telescope within said second baffle member,.said last mentioned means comprising a lug on said second baflie member adjacent a longitudinal edge of the arcuate portion thereof and forming a stop for a longitudinal edge of said one baffle member when .the latter is rotated into telescoping relation within said second baffle member.

4. In parts cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 3, including a pair of said bafi'le units which in non-telescoping relation extend substantially across the upper zone of said tank with adjacent longitudinal edges of said bafile units substantially in contact with each other, and including means for maintaining said bafile units in said non-telescoping relation, and link means between the rotatable shafts of each of said bafile units and said drive means such that actuation of said drive means in one direction produces simultaneous rotation of each of said baflle units away from each other to place the baffle members of each of said baffle units into telescoping relation and to place said bafile units in saidsecond position adjacent a side of the upper zone of said tank, and actuation of said drive means in the opposite direction produces simultaneous rotation of said baffle units toward each other and into said non-telescoping relation across the upper zone of said tank.

5. In parts cleaning apparatus including a tank having a lower zone for receiving cleaning liquid and parts to be cleaned during liquid agitation therein and an upper zone for a liquid seal overlying the cleaning liquid, the improvement which comprises a bafile unit including a plurality of telescoping baffle members, each such member being in the form of a right cylinder having a central arcuate portion and a pair of end segments connected to said arcuate portion, said batfie members being of slightly different sizes and adapted to telescope one within another, said cylindrical segment baffie members being positioned transversely of said tank, means mounting said cylindrical segment bafile members in the upper zone of said tank for pivotal motion of said baffie members on a common axis, said cylindrical segments in non-telescoping relation extending concavely downward sufiiciently across the upper zone of said tank that communication or agitation from the cleaning liquid in said lower zone to the liquid seal in the upper zone is essentially eliminated, said mounting means including a shaftlocated on the common axis of said telescoping baflle members at each end thereof, said bafile unit comprising a pair of said telescoping baflie members, one of said baffle members being mounted for rotation with said shafts and the second bafile member being mounted for free rotation on said shafts, said one bafile member being smaller than said second bafile member and adapted to telescope Within said second baffie member, and means comprising a lug on said second bathe member adjacent a longitudinal edge of the arcuate portion thereof and forming a stop for said one baffie member when the latter is rotated into telescoping relation Within said second bafile member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,606 1/ 1916 Blank 22020.5 1,743,507 1/1930 Wersebe 22020.5 1,852,610 4/1932 Grunwald 220--32 2,250,729 7/ 1941 Smith. 2,888,307 5/1959 Graves 312-211 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,350 7/ 1960 Austria.

571,081 2/1933 Germany,

845,298 8/ 1960 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN PARTS CLEANING APPARATUS INCLUDING A TANK HAVING A LOWER ZONE FOR RECEIVING CLEANING LIQUID AND PARTS TO BE CLEANED DURING LIQUID AGITATION THEREIN AND AN UPPER ZONE FOR A LIQUID SEAL OVERLYING THE CLEANING LIQUID, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A BAFFLE UNIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TELESCOPING BAFFLE MEMBERS, EACH SUCH MEMBER BEING IN THE FORM OF A RIGHT CYLINDER HAVING A CENTRAL ARCUATE PORTION AND A PAIR OF END SEGMENTS CONNECTED TO SAID ARCUATE PORTION, SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS BEING OF SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SIZES AND ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE ONE WITHIN ANOTHER, SAID CYLINDRICAL SEGMENTS BAFFLE MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID TANK, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CYLINDRICAL SEGMENT BAFFLE MEMBERS IN THE UPPER ZONE OF SAID TANK FOR PIVOTAL MOTION OF SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS ON A COMMON AXIS, SAID CYLINDRICAL SEGMENTS IN NON-TELESCOPING RELATION EXTENDING CONCAVELY DOWNWARD SUFFICIENTLY ACROSS THE UPPER ZONE OF SAID TANK THAT COMMUNICATION OF AGITATION FROM THE CLEANING LIQUID IN SAID LOWER ZONE TO THE LIQUID SEAL IN THE UPPER ZONE IS ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATED, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT LOCATED ON THE COMMON AXIS OF SAID TELESCOPING BAFFLE MEMBERS AT EACH END THEREOF, ONE OF SAID TELESCOPING BAFFLE MEMBERS BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH SAID SHAFTS, THE REMAINING BAFFLE MEMBERS BEING MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATION ON SAID SHAFTS, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID ONE BAFFLE MEMBER TOWARD SAID OTHER BAFFLE MEMBERS CAUSES SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS TO BE TELESCOPED WITHIN EACH OTHER, MEANS ON SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS FOR MAINTAINING SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS IN SAID TELESCOPED RELATION DURING ROTATION OF SAID SHAFTS IN A DIRECTION TO CAUSE ROTATION OF SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS AWAY FROM SAID ONE POSITION ACROSS THE UPPER ZONE OF SAID TANK, SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS BEING THUS ROTATABLE TO A SECOND POSITION ADJACENT A SIDE OF THE UPPER ZONES OF SAID TANK, PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY UNENCUMBERED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LOWER AND UPPER ZONES OF SAID TANK, BEARING MEMBERS FOR EACH OF SAID SHAFTS MOUNTED ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID TANK ON OPPOSITE WALLS THEREOF AND POSITIONED TO BE FREE FROM CONTACT WITH LIQUID IN SAID TANK, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATION OF SAID SHAFTS AND SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS, AND MEANS ON SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS FOR MAINTAINING SAID BAFFLE MEMBERS IN SAID SECOND TELESCOPED POSITION. 